Signal.



W. K. HOWE.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1911.

1,1 50,005. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO-WASHINGTON. n. c,

W. K. HOWE.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18.191].

1,150,005. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FlGLH.

ATTORNEY.

W. K. HOWE.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1-911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PV/TNESSES: [NV 151V TOR.

A TTORNE COLUMBIA PLANOORAY'H COHIYASHINGTON. D, c.

Wi M W. ,K. HOWE.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1911.

1,1 50,005. Patgnted Aug. 10, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

III M WXM [N VE N TOR.

COLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH co; WASHINGTON. n c.

WITNESSES 93 W. K. HOWE.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB. 13.1911- Patnted Aug. 10, 1915.;

I 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ilk 74 5| 2 WITNESSES: [NI/EN TOR. W BY W y ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PmNouRAPl-l Co.,wAsHl'NaTcN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VJINTHROP K. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL RAILWAYSIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEV YORK.

SIGNAL.

Application filed February 18, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WViNTi-rnor K. Hown, acitizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Rochester, inthe county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented n w and usefulSignal, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription of the physical embodlment which I have selected toillustrate the principle of my invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification.

T his invention relates to a signal and more particularly to theconstruction and arrangement of a semaphore actuating mechanism whichwill indicate to an operator at a predetermined point, that themechanism together with the semaphore, has returned to normal position.

The primary object of this invention is the construction and arrangementof a device of the character above described such that a returnindication of the danger position of a semaphore may be obtained from asemaphore actuating mechanism, which. allows the semaphore to return tonormal position upon the passing of a train, without the use ofcomplicated interlocking lever attachments heretofore used.

This invention consists primarily in a means for producing a backwardrotation of the semaphore actuating motor after the semaphore hasreturned to the normal or danger position; the said means being furtherso designed that it will but slightly impede the motor when the motor ismoving the semaphore to the full clear or 90 position and. being furtherso designed that it wili not strongly tend to rotate the semaphore motorbackward "until just before or at the zero or danger position of thesema- S-pecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 19 15.

Serial No. 609,417.

phore actuating mechanism and casing of my invention with the inclosingcasing in section and certain parts broken away to more clearly show theconstruction. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line A-B, ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a circuit breaker employed with myinvention. Figs. 1 and 5 are diagrammatic representations of the circuitbreaker and the circuits controlled thereby which maybe used in myinvention. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sectional details of the circuitbreaker shown by Fig. 3 on the line CD of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a detailview of part of a coupling used in carrying out my invention looking inthe direction of arrow X Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a view of a detail. Fig. 10is a cross sectional view on the line EF of Fig. 3, with some of theparts separated to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 11 is aperspective view of a coupling device used in applicants invention, theparts being separated to more clearly show the construction.

(Yeast motion. 1, designates a mast to which by means of the U bolts 2,the support is clamped, which in turn by means of bolts 84 supports thecasing 3, inclosing the semaphore mechanism; 4 designates the electricmotor for actuating the semaphore; 5 designates a pinion frictionallymounted upon the shaft 6 of the armature of the motor and which engagesthe gear 7, revolubly mounted upon a reduced portion of the shaft 8 andwhich has rigidly attached thereto the pinion 9, which meshes with thegear wheel 10, revolubly mounted upon a drum '11, having ratchet teethformed in its periphery so that the pawl 12 carried by the wheel 10 maybe engaged therewith and cause the drum to revolve carrying with it thepinion 13, the ratchet connection allowing the motor to continuerevolving after the mechanism on the semaphore side of the ratchet hasbeen stopped, when the motor is revolved backwardly by the springs 3:2and or the semaphore; 14 designates a sector having teeth on itsperiphery which engage with the teeth on the pinion 13; 8 is the shaftto which the sector leis rigidly attached which shaft is ournaled in theball bearing 16 and a bearing formed in the hanger 17 and carries on itsouter end the coupling member 18, which by means of the driver 19transmits motion to a second coupling member 20, which is fastenedrigidly to the shaft 21 on the outer end of which the ordinary semaphoreis fastened rigidly.

Fastened rigidly to the inner end of the shaft 8 so that it will revolvetherewith is the small sector 22; sector meshing with the sector 22 andfastened rigidly to the inner end of the circuit breaker shaft 24, thesaid shaft being carried in bearings formed in the members 25 and 26which form part of the frame work carrying the circuit breaker parts.The framework is attached to the downwardly extending casing lugs 27 bymeans of spacing studs 28, the spacing studs passing through slottedholes 85 best shown in Fig. 3, in the end portion 41 of the frame of thecircuit breaker, so that it may be adjusted. Attached to sector 14 is ablock 29 carrying a knife edge 159, see Fig. 2, which has hearingthere-against link 31 the other end of the link being connected to theend of a spring 32, which spring is connected at its other end to alever 31, said lever having connected to its other end the spring 35,said spring fastened at one end to the rigid stud 36. lVith the sectorin the position shown in Fig. 2, the block 29 bears against the stop 30and the semaphore is so connected to the shaft 8 through the couplingmem her that at such time the semaphore will be in the Zero or dangerposition, the knife edge being further so placed upon the sec tor 1 1,that when the sector 14 has moved through an angular distance of about40 the link 31 will bear against the shaft 8 at the bent portion of thelink 37, the springs at that time being fully distended a further motionof'the upper end of the link 31 caus ing no further elongation of thespring 32 and spring lVhen tension is exerted upon spring 32 the lever3st is moved about its pivot 38 which consists of a U bolt fastened atthe bottom of the case, consequently the right hand end of the lever 352as viewed in Fig. 2 is depressed which movement is resisted by thetension of spring 35.

The coupling members 18 and 20 which are most clearly shown in Figs. 8and 11 are formed exactly alike and ha'vecach two upstanding lu gs as 39and 10, Figs. 8 and 11, the lugs on both members 18 and 20 being of thesame length the lugs in width, that is measured at right angles to theplane of Fig. 8 being half the thickness of driver 19 and the ends ofthe driver 19 being bounded. by an arc of half the angular value of thearc between'either end of lug 40 and the adjacent ends of lug 39, theconstruction thus allowing one, 18, of the coupling members to moveindependently of the other, 20, and in the construction shown a freemovement of 10 is allowed driver 19 as regards coupling member 18 which,of course, allows a free movement of 80 between con- 23 designatesanother.

pling members 18 and 20. The coupling members 18 and 20, and the driver19, are, however, so assembled that when a semaphore is attached toshaft 21, and is in the dan er position a free movement of only 10exists between members 18 and 20.

The circuit breaker used for making and breaking the numerous circuitsneeded to govern this device has a frame portion 11 which has fastenedthereto the insulating blocks by means of screws 43; 44 designatesbinding posts which not only rigidly hold the flexible springs 15 inplace upon the insulating blocks 12, but also furnisha means forfastening the conductors conveying current in the different circuits.The circuit breaker shaft 2%. has rigidly attached thereto a drum -16constructed of insulating material and having grooves e7 in which arefastened metallic strips represented by small full-line rectangles inFigs. 1- and 5 the same being placed in the grooves 47 in such arelation to the springs 45 as will accomplish theresult desired as willmore fully hereinafter appear. On the outer end of the shaft 21- isrotatably mounted a drum 4&8 to the outer end of which is fastened theplate 49, which plate bears upon its outer face, the outstandingprojection 50, as best shown in Fig. 6, which is at such a. distancefrom the center of the hole 51 through which the shaft 21- passes thatit may overlap the projection 52 best shown in Fig. 7, which is on theback of a plate 53 fastened to the shaft 24- by a key fitting in thekeyway so that said plate must revolve with the shaft. A spring coiledabout the hub 56 of plate 53 has its two ends bent outwardly, best shownin Fig. 3 so that they press upon the outer edges of the two lugs and 52and keep the same normally in alinement. The plate 53 has a cavity inits outer face into which a hub upon a clamp plate 57 enters in such amanner that the fingers 58, 87, 88 and 89 best shown in Fig. 3 andhaving right angled extensions on their inner ends may fit therebetween,a castle nut 59 screwing onto the end of shaft 2 1, holding the plate 57in place. Clamped to the reduced inner end of the nut a plate member (30having attached thereto the rods (31 and G2 to connect with the countersG3 and G l respectively.

The plate 19 as best shown in Fig. 3 has its periphery formed into aseries of stops (35, (3G, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72, the stops (35 to 68inclusive being engaged by the-latch 73 and the stops G9 to 72 inclusivebeing engaged by the latch 74:, which latch members are pivotallymounted upon the studs 75 and 76, which studs are fastened to the framemember 4.1 and which allow the latches to turn freely thereon but whichlatches cannot move longitudinally thereon because of the cotter pins77. The latch members 73 and 74 have each a shoulder 78 and a slot 79 intheir lower end through which slot a bolt 80 passes holding in place asleeve 81 thereon by means of the nuts 82 on the outer end of the bolt,there being a serrated sleeve 161, spacing sleeve 81 from the latch, theserrations on the serrated sleeve 161 engaging the serrations 86 uponthe face of thelatch so as to maintain the adjustment of parts. Thefingers 58, 87, 88 and 89 engage serrations on the periphery of plateand are clamped thereto by means of plate 57, which has a cut outportion 90 of such a size that when placed opposite a finger, the fingercan be removed or adjusted about the face of plate 58.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent diagrammatically a section of track and thecircuits which may be used to operate my semaphore operating mechanism,91 and 92 designate the two rails of a railway track; 93 designates abattery for creating a difference of potential between the rails; 94designates a track relay which causes armature 95 to be in its upperposition when no train is on the track; 96 designates a relay, inpractice called the 90 control relay, and which is governed by theposition of the signal next ahead of signal 97 and which is intended toprevent-the placing of signal 97 in its full clear or 90 position unlessthe next signal ahead is either in the 45 position or 90 position anddoes so by allowing armature 98 to fall if the signal ahead is noteither in the 45 or 90 position; 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 and 104designate contact springs, and 100 being designed to be connected bymeans of a connecting block 105 when a lever 160 in an interlockingmachine to which it is connected is in the reverse position and at thesame time springs 99 and 100 are connected by block 105 the springs 101and 102 would be connected by block 106, which block 106 in the normalposition of the lever would connect springs 108 and 104; 107 designatesa battery for furnishing current to operate the motor 4, which in Figs.4 and 5 is represented by an armature 10S and normal operating fieldcoil 109 and a holding field coil 110, and which has connected towindings on the armature by means'of brushes 111and 112 the two wires113'and 114 leading to three sets of the circuit breaker springs 45which are represented in Figs. 4 and 5 by the heavy black lines 115* and116; 1.17 designates the well known indication magnet as used on anelectric interlocking machine and as is well known is designed whenoperated to release a certain lever of the machine so that it may bemoved to its final position; 118 designates an armature controlled byrelay coil 94. The small rectangles 119, 120, 121, 122,123, 125,represent the small metallic strips placed in the grooves 47, in thedrum 46 of the circuit breaker and 124, 126 and 127 the same kind ofstrips located in grooves in drum 48 and are designed to at timesconnect an upper and a lowerspring 45 with each other; the said springs45 being represented on Figs. 4 and 5 by heavy black lines and numbered128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 131, 135, 136, 137, 13s and 139. In Fig.4, the full line positions of the small rectangles are the positions ofthe metallic strips when the signal is at the Zero position and themechanism is at what might be called the 40 position. In Fig. 5 the fullline rectangles represent the positions of the metallic strips when thesignal is at the 90 position and in both figures the dotted linerectangles represent the positions of the metallic strips during thecourse of movement of the signal and mechanism, the indicated degreesreferring to the position of the semaphore.

(/pcmti0n.ii hen no train is on the rails 91 and and the signal ahead ofsignal 97 is in either the 45 or the 90 position, rclays 94 and 90 willbe energized, and if at that time the lever in the interlocking machinecontrolling signal 97 were reversed the connecting blocks 105 and 100would connect the springs 99 and 100 and 101 and 102 as shown in Fig. 5,which would allow current from the positive side of the battery 107 toflow by means of wire 140, spring 102, connecting block 100, spring 101,wire 141, wire 142, wire 143 to spring 131, metallie strip 120, spring130, wire 144, wire 145, operatin coil 109, armature 10S, Wire 1 16 tothe negative terminal of battery 107. he current in such path causingthe armature of the motor to rotate and through pinion 5, gear wheel 7,pinion 9, gear wheel 10, pawl 12, drum 11 and pinion 1 would causesector 14 to rotate with the shaft 8 in the direction of. the arrow ashown in Fig. 2 and as the knife edge bearing 159 is rigidly attac edsaid sector he link 31 would be moved rdly and to the right as viewed inFig.2 and would cause the springs and to be constantly distended untilbend 37 in link contacted "with shaft 8 which woul d be after sector 11: had rotated through about 40 during which in vemcnt although sector1- is rigidly attached to shaft 8 and coupling 18 as rigidly attached toshaft 8 the semaphore attached to shaft 21 would not be moved, as thefree movement between coupling member 18, driver 19 and coupling 20would not be eXcect ted. During the above described action, sector onthe end of shaft 8 would by engagement with sect-or 23 on the end ofcircuit breaker-shaft 24 rotate said shaft 24 in a direction counterclock-wise, that is, in the direction of arrow 7). Fig. I, and as plateis connected to shaft 24 it wouhl also move counter clockwise carryingwith it finger 58 so that at the time sector 14 had rotated 40, platefinger 58 would contact with sleeve 81 rigidly attached to latch 74,force the same outwardly and thus cause latch shoulder 78 to dis-engageshoulder 69 on the latch plate 49 and during which time lug 52 wouldalso rotate in the direction of the arrow 5 out of alinement with lug 59causing a tension to be exerted upon spring which tension on springwould cause a tension on lug 50 of latch plate 49, but as latch plate-19 is held from movement by shoulder 78 contacting with shoulder 69 nomovement of plate 49 could. take place but when finger 58 contacts withsleeve 81, latch 74 being forced outwardly allows plate shoulder 69 topass by latch shoulder 78 and thus allows the spring 55 to rotate plate49 and drum 48 in the direction of the arrow 6, until the plate isstopped and held by its shoulder engaging latch shoulder 78. This drummovement causes metallic strip 126 to break contact with springs 180 and131 with a snap and by the time metallic strip 126 "has snapped fromcontact with springs 130 and 131 contact has been moved into contactwith springs 132 and 183 as it is on the drum 46 which moves in unisonwith the semaphore actuating mechanism so that a holding circuit wouldbe formed as follows: positive side of battery 107, wire 140, spring102, block 106, spring 101, wires 141, 142 and 143, spring 131., spring132. strip 125, spring 133, wires 14-7 and 14-8, holding coil 110,operating coil 109, armature 108 and wire 14:6 to the negative terminalof the battery, thus holding the mechanism in the moved position assufficient current passes through the last above traced path tosu'lliciently energize the motor to prevent the backward rotation of thesemaphore actuating mechanism, and at the same time that strip madecontact with spr ngs 132 and 133, strip 121 on drum 46 made contact withsprings 115 and 116, so that the wires 113 and 114- were connected, thusshort circuiting the coils on the armature connec ed to brushes 111 and112 and snubbing the motor so as to reduce its tendency to over-run. Atthe same time that strip 126 snapped from contact with springs 130 and181, strip 12;- snapped into contact with springs -34 and 135 as strip124 is ilastened to the drum 48. r

If armature 118 was not in contact with wire 149 at the end of themovement described, the mechanism would remain in. the moved positionbut if armature 118 contacted with wire 14-9 the following completecircuit would be made, positive terminal of battery 107, wire 140,spring 102, block 106, spring 101, wires 141, 142 and 150, armature 118,wire 149, spring 135, strip'124, spring 134, wire 151, wire 145,operating field 109, armature 108 and wire 146 to thenegative terminalof the battery. The current flowing in the last above traced path wouldcause a further rotation of the motor beyond 40, and through the trainof gearing heretofore described would cause a further rotation of sector14: in the direction of the arrow a, but such rotation of sector 14would not cause a further extension of springs 32 and 35 for the link 31would revolve about shaft 8 as a fulcrum by virtue of the bend 37contacting with shaft 8 but as the free movement of the coupling membersbetween shaft 8 and shaft 21 to which the semaphore is attached has beenexhausted the semaphore will begin to move toward the 45 position atwhich point the momentum of the motor will be checked by the snubbingdevice as strip 120 will atthat time be in engagement with springs 115and 116 being moved to such position by the rotation of drum 46, at thesame time strip 123 will connect springs 136 and 137 so that a circuitwill be formed as follows: positive side of battery 107, wire 14.0,spring 102, block 106, spring 101, wires 141, 142 and 150, armature 118,wire 149, spring 135, spring 136, strip 123, spring 137, wires 152 and148, holding coil 110, operating coil 109, armature 108, wire 146 to thenegative terminal of the battery 107. The current flowing in the lastabove traced path would hold the semaphore in its now reached positionif armature 98 was not in its upper position so that the semaphore couldcontinue to the 90 position. In moving the blade from the zero positionto the 45 position the mechanism also through the shaft 24 rotated theplate and finger 87 toward latch 74 and would at the moment thesemaphore reached the 7 45 position cause finger 87 to contact withsleeve 81 and throw the latch out of engagement with the shoulder 70whereupon plate 49 together with drum 48 would be rotated in thedirection of the arrow 7) in Fig. 3 snapping strip 124 out of engagementwith springs 134- and and snapping strip 127 into engagement withsprings 128 and 129 the latch plate 49 being caught and held in positionby plate shoulder 72 coming in contact with shoulder 78 on the latch 74.If at the time strip 127 is brought into contact with springs 128 and129, armatures 98 and 95 are in their upper position and the lever towhich blocks 105 and 106 are connected is in the reversed position shownin Fig. 5, current will. flow through the following pathzpositiveterminal of battery 107, Wire 1410, wire 153, spring 100, block 105,spring 99, wire 154-, armature 98, wire 155, armature 95, wire 156, wire157, spring 128, strip 127, spring 129, spring 130, and wires 14-4 and145, operating coil 109, armature 108, and wire 146 to the negativeterminal of the battery. The current in the last above traced path wouldcause the motor to operate and move the semaphore to the full 90position at which point strip 119 would contact with springs 115 and 116snubbing the motor and at the same time strip 122 would contact withsprings 138 and 139 closing the following path: positive terminal ofbattery 107, wire 1410, wire 153, spring 100, block 105, spring 99, wire15 1, armature 98, wire 155, armature 95, wires 156, 158, spring 139,strip 122, spring 138, spring 137, wires 152 and 148, holding coil 110,operating coil 109, armature 108, and wire 146 to the negative terminal.of the battery, the current in the above traced path holding thesemaphore arm in the full clear or 90 position and at the moment itreaches such position, finger 88 will contact with sleeve 81, releasethe latch plate 49 from engagement with the latch 74 and cause thecontact strip 127 borne by drum 18 to be snapped from engagement withsprings 128 and 129 thus breaking the operating circuit for the motor.After the motor has thus moved the signal to the full clear or 90position the only two contact strips in engagement with springs would be122 and 119 as shown by Fig. 5, and plate shoulder would be inengagement with shoulder 78, of the latch 73. If a two position upperquadrant signal moving through 60 of arc were used then shoulder 71would hold on latch 7 at until the signal had assumed the clearposition. In such case the position of finger 58 would of course bechanged accordingly. If a three position lower quadrant signal had beenattached to shaft 21, and the direction of rotation of the motor areversed, then shoulder 68 would be used as 72 is now. If a two positionlower quadrant signal wer used then shoulder 67 would serve as 71 doeswith a two position upper quadrant signal.

' lVith all the parts as shown in Fig. 5, by full lines, if a trainshould enter upon a block protected by signal 97, relay armature and 118would drop and by the dropping of armature 95 the holding circuitholding the semaphore in the full 90 position would be broken and thesemaphore would return by gravity to the r5 position carrying with itthe drum 416, and also shaft 2 which causes plate 53 to revolve in adirection contrary to arrow 5 as shown in F i g. 3, and when thesemaphore has reached the 45 position finger 89 will contact with sleeve81 fastened to latch 73 and force said latch out of engagement withshoulder 65 on which it was caught by the semaphore going to the full 90position 'flllt wnild thereby cause strip 127 to snap into engage mentwith springs 128 and 129. At the same time that strip 127 snapped intocontact with springs and 129,.strip 120 would be in contact with springs115 and 116 so that the motor would act as a braking generator toprevent the arm moving too rapidly at the moment it reached the 15position, by a generation of current depending on residual magnetism. Atthe same time that strip 120 contacted springs 115 and 116 strip 123contacted with springs 136 and 137 and would, if armature 98 had alonebeen dropped when the signal was in the full 90 or clear position haveheld the semaphore arm at the =3'r5 position. I have assumed thatarmatures 95 and 118 were open, therefore, the semaphore will continueto move toward the zero position and would when it reached that positioncause the motor to be snubbed by strip 121, contacting with springs 115and 116 and would at the same time cause strip 125 to contact withsprings 132 and 133, which would establish a holding circuit heretoforedescribed to hold the semaphore actuating mechanism in the zero positionby current in the following path: positive terminal of battery 107, wire1&0, spring 102, block 106, spring 101, wires 1.41, 1 12, and 1&3,spring 131, spring 132, strip 125, spring 133, wires 147, and 1&8,holding coil 110, operating coil 109, armature 108 and wire L16 tothenegative terminal of the battery. The last above traced path wouldexist as long as the lever remained in its reversed position with blocks105 and 106 in the position shown in Fig. 5 and it will be noticed thatat this time, although the semaphore arm is at the zero position themechanism has not returned to its normal condition for the springs 32and 35 are still distended, the sector 1 1 is at a position 40 from itsinitial position but 'it will also be observed that at this time thesprings are exerting a strong tension on link 31 tending to return themechanism to the normal position but such tendency is resisted by theholding circuit last above traced, so that if the holding circuit isbroken by placing the lever 160, in the normal indication position shownin Fig. i, the springs 32 and 35 will force the mechanism to the normalposition causing the shaft to further revolve in an opposite directionto the arrow 5 shown in Fig. 3 and would cause plate to further revolveand cause finger 88 to contact with sleeve 81 on latch 73, force thelatch from engagement with shoulder 66, with which it engaged when thesemaphore arm reached the 45 position and thus cause drum 48 carried byplate -l-9 to snap the strip 12st past springs 13% and 135 and causestrip 126 to snap into contact with springs 130 and 1.31 all of which iscaused tohappen by so adjusting finger 88 that it will release latch 73a few degrees before the mechanism reaches its normal position, theconsequence of which is the motor by its backward rotation caused by the10 or thereabout backward rotation of the mechanism generates a currentwhich at the moment strip 126 snaps into contact with springs 130, and131, has a complete path for it as follows: block 106, spring 10?),wires 1&2 and 113, spring 131, strip 126, spring 130, wires 1&1 and 115,operating coil 109, armature 108, and wire 158, indication magnet 117 tospring 101 and and thus to block 106, the current in said path allowsthe lever to be moved from its indication position to its full normalposition thus releasing as is well known the locks of conflictingroutes. It will thus be seen that by means of the mechanism hereindescribed the semaphore arm may be operated by means of an electricmotor to either the 45 or 90 position depending upon track conditionsand that afterhaving been so moved by a change in track conditions thesignal will be caused automatically to return to either 45 or the Zeroposition and that after it has returned to the zero position by theoperation of means not including a movement of an interlocking lever bywhich the signal is moved to the clear position, a dynamic indication ofthe zero position of the blade can be obtained by then returning thelever controlling the signal to the indication position thereby breakingthe holding circuit, which allows the mechanism at the signal togenerate a dynamic current which on or about the time the mechanism forso doing has returned to normal position completes a circuit whichallows that current to flow through. an indication magnet and in thewell known manner release a latch so that the lever may be returned tothe full normal position.

Heretofore where signals such as described and which are ordinarilycalled semiautomatic signals have been used, it has been necessary toemploy means for storing up the indication at the lever when the signalwas returned to the normal position by a change in track conditions butby this invention complicated mechanisms of this character are entirelydone away with, and a simple, reliable and dependable device has beenconstructed for accomplishing the object set forth. It will also bereadily understood that if the interlocking lever is placed in normalindication position when the semaphore is at the 90 or full clearposition, the semaphore will fall to the zero or danger position andthat the mechanism will continue rotating backward to give theindication until stopped by stop 30; so that an operator can causesignal 97 to move up and down at pleasure irrespective of the action ofa train it no trainis on rails 91 and 92.

Having particularly described the con struction and operation oi onephysical embodiment of my invention and explained the operation andprinciple thereof, what I claim as new and desire to protect by LettersPatent is:

1. In an electric interlocker signal, a track circuit section, a trainadapted to move over said section, a lever having an operative positionand an indication position, circuit closers connected to the lever andmoving therewith, springs contacted by the circuit closers in theoperative position of the lever and in the indication position 01 thelever, circuits containing the springs contacted by the circuit closers,a source of current in one oi said circuits, a motor in said one circuitmoved to operated position by the current from said source when saidcircuit closers contact said springs in the operative position of saidlever, a circuit to hold said motor in operated position formed by themovement of said motor, a semaphore, means connecting the semaphore tosaid motor, including a lost motion coupling and a shaft, whereby saidmotor has a motion independ ent of said semaphore a power storing deviceconnected to said motor, said power storing device consisting of a linkand expansion springs connected thereto the springs being expandedduring the period of lost motion movement of the motor, a crank on saidshaft, said link connected to said crank, a bend in said link a shortdistance from the end connected to the springs adapted to fulcrum 011said shaft at the end of the period of lost motion between the motor andthe semaphore to prevent further excessive expansion of the springs,circuit breakers interposed in the circuit to the motor, connectionsmoved in unison with the motor to actuate said circuit breakers, meansto delay the movement of certain of said circuit breakers, means actingon said delaying means at times to prevent further delay and allow saiddelayed circuit breakers to complete their movement with a snap, meansgoverned by the train to break the circuit holding the signal. in itsoperated positions, a second holding circuit for the motor includingsaid circuit breakers which are undelayed, said connections to actuatesaid other circuit breakers being by the breaking of the first mentionedholding circuit put in operation in a reverse direction and operating toclose the second mentioned holding circuit through the motor to hold theconnections between the motor and the semaphore in the limit of the freemotion between the semaphore and the motor, a movement of said leverfrom operative to indication position breaking the second mentionedholding circuit for the motor to allow the power storing device torotate the motor backward and another of the said circuit breakersadapted to make a circuit through the motor just before the end of itsbackward movement, an indication magnet controlling the said leveractuated by current generated in the motor by said backward rotation.

2. In an electric interlocker signal, a semaphore, a source of current,a motor having an armature actuated by current from said source, meansconnecting the armature and the semaphore, containing a lost motiondevice whereby the semaphore may be oper ated by the actuation of thearmature after a predetermined movement of the said connecting means, apower storing device connected to the connecting means adapted to becharged during the period of lost motion, and to drive the motorbackwardly when current iscut off, thereby causing the motor to generatea current of electricity, means to utilize the current produced forindicating the position of the semaphore.

3. In an electric semaphore signal, a semaphore, a source of current, alever having an operating and an indication position, a circuitvcontroller connected to the lever and moving therewith, a motor actuatedby current from said source when said lever is in operating position;means for transmitting motion from said motor to said semaphore, a lostmotion device interposed in said transmitting means, adapted to allowthe transmitting means to move relatively to the semaphore, apowerstoring device connected to said transmitting means adapted to becharged by the actuation of said motor, during the period of lostmotion, means interposed in the motor circuit for interrupting the sameand allowing the semaphore to return to normal position by the action ofgravity, an indication device and circuit connected to said motor,another circuit controller closed at the normal. indication position ofsaid lever, said power storing device acting on the motor. to generate acurrent and release said lever from its no mal indicating position sothat it may be placed in full normal position.

4. In an electric interlocker signal, a sema phore, means to operate thesemaphore, a power storing device, means connecting the power storingdevice with the means to op-- erate the semaphore whereby the powerstoring device is charged before the operation of the semaphore, a levercontrolled by an indication device, means to utilize the power stored inthe power storing device to release the lever.

5. A semaphore, means to operate the semaphore, a circuit controlleradapted when closed to set said means in operation, a power storingdevice which is charged on the initial movement of the means to operatethe semaphore, means connecting said power storing device and the meansto operate the semaphore, said second mentioned means allowing movementof the somaphore, without considerable charging of the power storingdevice.

6. In an electric interlocker signal, a semaphore, means to operate thesemaphore, means connecting the means to operate the semaphore and thesemaphore having lost motion adapted to allow relative mo ement betweenthe semaphore and the means to operate the semaphore, a crank operatedby the means to operate the semaphore, a link connected to said crank, aspring connected to said link, said link having a bend, a fulcrum forsaid bend, said bend adapted to contact said fulcrum at the end of thefree movement of the motor, said bend formed at such a distance from theend of the link connected to the spring as to form an extremely shortlever arm.

7. In an electric interlocker signal, a semaphore, a motor to actuatethe semaphore, a shaft connected to the motor and to the semaphore, alostmotion coupling interposed in the shaft adapted to allow apredetermined free movement of the motor before the actuation of thesemaphore, a crank rigid with the end of the shaft connected to themotor, a link bearing on the crank, the end of the link bearing on thecrank being on one side of the horizontal plane including the centerline of rotation of the shaft and the other end of the link on the otherside of the horizontal plane including the center line of rotation ofthe shaft, a tension spring, one end of the tension spring connected tothe last mentioned end, the other end of the spring op erativelyconnected to a fixed point, a fulcrum point on the link adapted tocontact with the shaft after a predetermined movement, the said fulcrumpoint being located between the longitudinal center of the link and theend connected to the said spring, whereby but slight motion is impartedto the end of the link connected to the spring after said fulcrumengages with the shaft, by the continued rotation of the crank, saidlink and crank being relatively so placed that a line joining the pointof bearing of the crank and link with the point of connection of thespring and link will pass on the side of the shaft opposite the linkwhen said link contacts said shaft, the link and crank being in suchrelative position to the shaft that the link will contact the shaft atthe end of the free movement of the motor.

8. In an electric interlocker signal, a semaphore, means for supportingthe semaphore so that it may be oscillated, a motor for oscillating thesemaphore, a lost motion device interposed between the semaphore and themotor adapted to allow a predetermined free movement of the motor beforethe actuation of the semaphore, a lever connected to the motor betweenthe motor and the lost motion device, a link bearing on the lever at theend remote from its pivot, the end of the link searing on the leverbeing above the axis of the pivot, the other end of the link being belowthe axis of the pivot, a power storing device connected to the saidother end of the link, a fulcrum point on the link adapted to contactwith the said pivot after a predetermined movement has taken place, thesaid fulcrum point being located between the longitudinal center. of thelink and the end connected to the power storing device where by butslight motion is imparted to the end of the link connected to the powerstoring device after said fulcrum engages with the said pivot by thecontinued rotation of the lever, said link and lever being relatively soplaced that a line joining the point of bearing of the lever and linkwith the point of connection of the lever and power storing device willpass on the side of the pivot opposite the link when said link contactssaid pivot, the link and lever being in such a relative position to saidpivot that the link will contact the pivot at the end of the freemovement of the motor.

9. In an electric interlocker signal, a semaphore, means to operate thesemaphore, means connectingthe means to operate the semaphore and thesemaphore having lost motion adapted to allow relative movement betweenthe semaphore and the means to operate the semaphore, a power storingdevice, means connecting the power storing device for charging the samewith the means to operate the semaphore, said power storing device beinglargely charged during the period of lost motion, the connections beingsuch that the mechanical advantage between the means to operate thesemaphore and the power storing device is thereafter largely increased.

10. In a signal, a semaphore, an electric meter for operating thesemaphore, a source of current for operating the motor, a circuitcontroller for controlling the flow of current from said source to themotor, a lost motion device between the motor and the semaphore, wherebythe motor rotates a certain amount before causing an operation of thesemaphore, a power storing device connected to the motor charged duringthe period of lost motion, said power storing device adapted to rotatesaid motor backwardly after said circuit controller is opened therebygenerating an electric current by said motor, an indication magnet forutilizing said current.

11. In a signal, a semaphore having a normal biased position and anoperated position, a motor for moving said semaphore from the normalbiased position to the operated position, a source of current for operating the motor, a circuit controller for controlling the flow ofcurrent from said source to the motor, a lost motion device between themotor and the seniaphorc whereby the motor may rotate a certain amountbefore beginning to move the semaphore from the normal biased positionto the operated position, a power storing device connected to the motorcharged during the period 0'! lost motion, said power storing deviceadapted to rotate the motor baokwardly after said circuit controller isopened and the semaphore thereby liberated has returned to normal biasedposition thereby generating an electriccurrent by said niotor, anindication magnet for utilizing said current.

12. In a signal, a semaphore having a normal biased position and anoperated position, a motor for operating the semaphore from the normalbiased position to the operated position, said motor connected with thesemaphore to rotate backwardly when the semaphore moves from theoperated position to the normal bias position, means for causing ageneration of current of electricity by said motor at any time aftersaid semaphore moves from the operated position to the biased positionby reason of its bias, an indication device for utilizin" said current.

13. In a signal, a biased semaphore having a biased position and anoperated position, a motor, a train of mechanism connecting the motorand the semaphore, whereby the mechanism always moves backwardly and sorotates the motor backwardly when the semaphore moves from its operatedposition to its biased position by reason of its bias, a source ofcurrent for operating the motor, a circuit controller for controllingthe How of current, means for rotating the motor backwardly after thecircuit controller has been opened and the semaphore has returned to itsbiased position thereby generating a current of electricity, means forutilizing the current for indicating the position of the semaphore.

1%, In a signal, a semaphore having a normal biased position and anoperated position, a motor connected to the semaphore so as to rotatebaclnvardly therewith, a source of current, connections from the sourceof current to the motor including circuit controllers, one of saidcircuit controllers operated manually, means to operate another by theaction of a train, when both of said circuit controllers are-closed saidsemaphore being moved and held in the operated position, when saidcircuit controller controlled by the train is opened said semaphoremoving in response to its bias to the biased position, means set inmotion by opening said manually controlled circuit controller tothereafter cause said motor to rotate backwardly and generate a currentof electricity, means to utilize said current for indicating theposition of the semaphore.

15. In a signal, a semaphore having a nornal biased position and aplurality of operated positions, a motor connected to the semaphore soas to rotate baclnvardly therewith, asource of current, connections fromthe source of current to the motor including a plurality of circuitcontrollers, one of said circuit controllers operated manually, means tooperate the remainder of said circuit controllers by the action of atrain, When all of said circuit controllers are closed said semaphorebeing moved and held in one of its operated positions, when one of saidtrain controlled circuit controllers is closed and said manuallycontrolled circuit controller is closed the semaphore being held inanother of said operated positions, when all of said circuit controllerscontrolled by a train are opened said semaphore moving in response toits bias to the biased position, means set in motion by opening saidmanually controlled circuit controller to thereafter cause said motor torotate backwardly and generate a current of electricity, means toutilize said current for indicating the position of the semaphore.

WINTHROP K. HOWE.

Witnesses:

S. A. BENEDICT, GEORGE T. WHITNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

